Best Coffee Tour in Costa Rica is in Atenas at El Toledo Organic Coffee Finca

We wanted to take our Kentucky guests, Sally and Mary Kay on a tour of a coffee farm. (Wandering around our coffee plants next to the house didn’t qualify because we don’t process coffee, only grow it.)

It only took a few phone calls and Gabriel had us booked to tour the farm and have lunch.

We met him at 10 a.m. and immediately started learning about growing and processing of organic coffee.

Why organic coffee?

That was a question he asked us early on. My response (which was not wrong) “because it’s the right thing to do.”

Har, when it doubt, be vague.

He was serious with his response:

Because of our health.

He said his father realized 14 years ago that all the chemicals he was inhaling was causing him health problems. Five other neighbor fincas decided that they didn’t want to expose themselves or their families to the hazards of herbicides and pesticides any longer. They formed a tiny cooperative and started learning how to farm organic coffee.

Not because of the marketing, not because it was easier, not because they would make more money, but because … it was the right thing to do… for their health.

Since we were having lunch after the tour, Gabriel decided that the coffee tasting should happen first. He explained how they create light, regular and dark coffees and we sampled each.

Did I mention there were only six of us on the tour? Did I mention that Gabriel was very knowledgeable and patient?

We soon left the “Starbucks” of Atenas and started traipsing among coffee beans spread out on black plastic and on mesh screens drying in the blazing sun. This was organic coffee farming at the basic level. There was nothing “bulk” about the process here.

We soon found ourselves surrounded by coffee plants as Gabriel not only talked coffee, but local flora and fauna. He showed us trees and plants and butterflies and birds – and told us the names and why they were important to growing organic coffee. Everything interacted to produce better coffee without destroying the surrounding ecology. Even the horse shit baking in the sun was important.

Hi, thanks so much for your comment on my blog – I suddenly realized I had deleted the Over 50 blogroll I had on my blog and yours must have been in that list! I just added you back in my regular blog feed blogroll so I’ll know whenever you update and will be back to reading you regularly! I always enjoy your posts.

Mark, This is Bruce, Mary Kay’s other half. I’d like to thank you and Nancy for taking them to the Coffee Plantation. I really think it was the hit of the trip for her. She brought me a bag back that Gabriel made up special for her. It’s a ” Light Blend ” and is wonderful. I am just finishing up my second pot of the day and might be able to squeeze in another one before bedtime.

Nancy, Hi, this is Gabriel, I wanted to ask you if you allowed me to use one of your pictures you took when you came here, But I didn’t, so know I’m using it! you can se our brochure and see we put it on it!